Tarragon Theatre

It had been a while since I last experienced live theatre, so it was a special treat. to go see Forsts at the Tarragon.   I was really impressed with the small venue and the acting ability.   I have  associated larger companies with better quality of actors/actresses in the past.  I was obviously not correct in this viewpoint, and happy with my new interest in theatre performances.   It was my first time visiting the Tarragon theatre space.  It is intimate and this adds to the charming appeal.   The main space seats about 200 patrons and they have an extra space that seats 100.  Another patron of the theatre mentioned “The performances I’ve attended have always been full or near full, probably because the tickets are one of the best deals in town and because they put on such interesting work.”    I will definitely consider attending another performance at the Tarragon to explore it further.

“When you’ve got a big hole in your heart, nothing is enough.”  Forests.

The actual Forests production was quite an experience.  I felt like I was taken on a long and complicated journey of someones puzzled life.   Sometimes it left me wondering where on earth I was going to go next.  At the end I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the over all journey and the psychology behind it.  The story begins with  a character named Aimée when she learns that she has an unusual brain tumour. However, she decides to risk her life to have her baby.  Then only to die when her daughter Loup is a teenager. The daughter is grief-stricken and bitter to the bone.  This leads the story of Loup who reluctantly begins a quest to discover the origin of her mother’s mysterious illness.  This quest is an interesting windy road.  The story is deep and disturbing at times, but I appreciated the fact that they didn’t leave you there.   In a story that spans six generations and two continents, Wajdi Mouawad demonstrates that the bonds of family are not merely biological and cannot be contained.   It’s not a light story, so those who are not willing to take a deep inner voyage, it might not be for you.  If you like a story with deep meaning that you can explore ideas on cognitive psychology, this might just be for you.  It is a story that dives into the Art of Remembering – Or Not.  And, as I mentioned before the acting talent will definitely guide you, with use of their excellent skills, through the story, towards an ending that will leave you fulfilled.

Love of the Tarragon

This little theatre on the outskirts of the Annex is a hidden treasure worth exploring.  I was surprised to find out that for forty years Tarragon has been creating, developing and producing new plays.  I could see why the best Canadian talent are drawn to this company for employment in hopes to be part of the process of  telling stories.  The building itself is quite the ” ramshackle affair”.  It has been described as “charming approaching dilapidated”.    It’s a little crowded but that comes with territory of good quality theatre.    If you play it, they will come.   Some have also mentioned a little annoyance with the crowd control in the small lobby, and with line-ups for the two theatres and the box office sharing space.  I guess things can get confusing.   But all of that is nothing to the quality of the work presented.   Again, let me reiterate: the tickets are cheap considering the quality of theatre you experience.

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